More earnings from milk than crops, says Minister

New Delhi, Jun 25: There are more earnings through milk production than through crops, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.'We are earning more money through milk production than crops,' Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Minister Giriraj Singh said during Question Hour. 'We are protecting cows. Sexed semen is being provided so that she-calves are born. We are using technology, including Embryo Transplant (ET), in this direction,' he said responding to supplementaries.

He said cow centres are being set up in many states to protect the cows. 'As many as 4,000 centres have been opened in Uttar Pradesh for cow protection,' the Minister said, adding that however, cow protection is a state subject. 'A cow protection committee has been constituted,' Mr Singh said.Congress member Shashi Tharoor said the larger issue was there should be clarity as to who were authorised to be in the committee as goonda elements should not be involved.

On Centrally-sponsored scheme 'Blue Revolution : Integrated Development and management of Fisheries', the Minister said financial assistance was being provided for establishment of fish seed hatcheries, construction of new ponds among others and the schemes are being implemented through state governments. (UNI)